Rate of change and weight on bit automatic drilling control system



Nov. 2, 195 1 A. S. BADGER RATE OF CHANGE AND WEIGHT ON BIT AUT2,693,084 OMATIC DRILLING CONTROL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept.14, 1953 r0 TAL Isle/1 r 4 IR SUPPL Y All? SUPPLY IR SUPPLY 4m suPPLrIIYDRAULIC uh:

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2,693,084 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 RATE OF CHANGE AND WEIGHT ON BIT AUTO-MATIC DRILLING CONTROL SYSTEM Algernon S. Badger, Houston, Tex.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Standard Oil Development Company,Elizabeth, N. .L, a corporation of Delaware Application September 14,1953, Serial No. 379,791

4 Claims. (Cl. 60-97) to the art for controlling the rate at which thedrawworks is allowed to rotate, this in turn controlling the rate atwhich the drill string is lowered. Hydraulically controlled systemsfordrilling oil wells are disclosed in U. S. Patents 1,831,437, Brantly,November 10, 1931, 2,133,016, Brantly, October 11, 1938, and 2,489,449,Crookston, November 29, 1949.

The present system is particularly adapted for regulating the flow ofhydraulic fluid through a hydraulic valve which in turn controls therate of rotation of the drawworks drums in accordance with variation inthe fluid pressure in a weight indicator which is attached to a drillingline and indicates the tension being exerted thereon.

Other objects and advantages in the present invention will be seen fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the drawing in whichFig. 1 is in the form of a schematic flow sheet incorporating anembodiment of the present invention and its purpose in operation;

Fig. 2 is in the form of an elevation partly in section showing detailsof construction of one of the assemblies of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

' Turning now specifically to the drawing a valve body A'has valveelements B and C arranged therein. Fluid motor means for actuating thevalve elements are D, E, F, and G. A specific design showing valve body'A, members B and C and fluid motor means F and G is de scribed andclaimed in U. S. Patent No. 2,665,713, issued Jan. 12:, 1954, in thenames of Robert R. Crookston and Arthur I. Seljos.

H is a weight on bit indicating and signalling apparatus. Suitableapparatus for this purpose is described and claimed in the copending U.S. application, Serial No.

242,301, filed in the name of Arthur I. Seljosv and Algernon S. Badger,August 17, 195 1. Diaphragm valve assemblies J and K are operativelyconnected to assembly H. Diaphragm assembly I is connected to fluidmotor elements F and G. Diaphragm assembly K is connected throughinterrupter assembly L to fluid motor D and 7 through interrupterassembly M to fluid motor E.

In the drawing compressed air is furnished by a source not shown. Forconvenience, the compressed air lines be pistons slidingly arrangedwithin the body A and cooperating therewith to form chambers 17 and 18,respectively. Thus, when the pressure in chamber 17 is sulficient toovercome both the pressure eXertedin chamber 18 and the tension of thespring 16, valve C will move to the rightas viewed in the drawing.However, when the pressure in chamber 18 1s sufflcient to overcome boththe supplied with the compressed air are designated by the commonreference3=number 10.

Hydraulic valve body A is provided with a hydraulic fluid inlet 11 and ahydraulic fluid outlet 12. The flow of fluid through the body iscontrolled by the two cooperating valve elements B and C. Valve elementB is carried by a valve stem 13 which. in turn carries a gear ortoothed. wheel 14 so that the position of element B and valve body A isaltered by rotation of gear 14. Valve C is carried by piston rod 15which is biased to a predetermined central position by spring 16 and16'. Mounted on piston rod 15 are fluid motor elements F and G. As shownin the drawing, members F and G may -be engaged with the drilling line31.

pressure exerted in chamber 17 and the tension in spring 16, valve Cwill move to the left as viewed in the drawing.

Fluid motors D and E are arranged to rotate gear 14. The construction ofthese motors is identical so that the separate parts making them up aredesignated by identical reference numbers. In each motor a housing 20has arranged therein a piston 21 carrying a piston rod 22. Piston rod 22projects a substantial distance below the housing and terminates in apivoted ratchet 23. The piston and housing define a chamber 24 with afluid inlet 25 for said chamber. A spring 26 embraces piston rod 22 andexerts a bias on the piston toward the head end of housing 20. It willbe seen that fluid motor D is arranged to rotate gear 14 in theclockwise direction as viewed in the drawing while fluid motor E isarranged to rotate gear 14 in counterclockwise direction as viewed inthe drawing.

The assembly H consists of a clamp 30 adapted to Clamp 30 is operativelyconnected by a hydraulic conduit or line 32 to controller housing 33. Asheretofore explained, a suitable design for assembly H is described andclaimed in copending U. S. application, Serial No. 242,301. In order tosimplify the drawing the interior construction of housing 33 is notshown, but as a suitable construction housing 33 may contain diaphragmsarranged so that the hydraulic fluid in line 32 is balanced againstcompressed air introduced from line 10 through regulator 34 and line 35to housing 33. A valve schematically indicated by rectangle 36 iscontrolled by said dia phragm arrangement and in turn controls the Howof compressed air from line 10 through inlet line 37 which is connectedwith a manifold N. A compressed air gauge 38 connected to line 37indicates the total weight on it.

The assemblies J and K are identical in construction. In Fig. 2 and Fig.3 details of construction of assembly I are shown, but it will beunderstood that assembly K has an identical construction and thus thecomponent parts will be designated by identical reference numbers. Eachassembly J and K may be considered as consisting of first and secondvalves with fluid motor means capable of separately actuating the valvesto release compressed air to the atmosphere.

Turning now specifically to Figs. 2 and 3, in assembly I a housing 4t)has arranged therein a pair of diaphragms 41 and 42. The center portionsof the diaphragms are secured together by a rod 43. Between diaphragm 41and the housing is a chamber 44 with access thereto provided by inletport 45. A spring 46 is arranged within chamber 44. Similarly, at theother end of the housing between diaphragm '42 and the end of thehousing is a chamber 47 with access to the chamber provided by inletport 48. A spring 49' is arranged between the housing and diaphragm 42.It will be seen that the springs 46 and 49 are arranged in oppositionand tend to maintain the diaphragms 41 and 42 in a predetermined centralposition. However, when the pressure in chamber 44 is suflicient toovercome the pressure in chamber 47 plus the force of spring 49, rod 43will move to the right as viewed in the drawing. Similarly, when thepressure in chamber 47 is suflicient to overcome the pressure in chamber44 plus the force exerted by spring 46, diaphragm 42 will move rod 43 tothe left as viewed in the drawing. Within housing is a central partition50 at the side of which is a passage 51 having an outlet 521 and at theother side of which is a passage 53 having an outlet 54. An inlet port55 leads into partition 50 and terminates in a valve seat 56. Anotherinlet port 57 enters partition 50 and terminates in a valve seat 58. Avalve closure means 59 is biased against valve seat 56 by spring 60 andsimilarly a valve closure 61 is biased against seat 58 by spring 62. Atripping mechanism 63, which may be a washer, is carried by rod 43 sothat upon movement of the rod to the right as viewed in the drawingmember 58 is moved away from valve seat 56 and allows the passage offluid from inlet 55 through seat 56 and out through port 52. A similarvalve tripping mechanism 64 is also carried by rod 43 and upon movementof valve rod to the left tripping mechanism 64 moves closure element 61away from valve seat :58 and allows the passage of fluid from inlet 57through seat 58 and out through opening 54.

Port 55 of assembly I is connected to line 57 is connected to line 71.line 73 to a regulator 72 which may be set by hand to any desirableamount. The inlet of regulator 72 is connected to compressed air inletline 10. A compressed air gauge 74 is connected to line 73 by connectingline 7 and port Manifold N is connected through branch line 80 to port48 of assembly I, through branch 81 to the outlet of a piston controlledvalve 0, through branch line 83 to piston controlled valve P, throughbranch line 85 to an orifice member 86 and through branch line 87 tochamber 44 of assembly K. The chamber 47 of assembly K is connectedthrough line 88 and brane-h line 89 to volume 76 through line 88 andbranch line 77, to orifice member 86, through line 88 and branch line 90to the inlet of piston operated valve P and through line 88 and branchline 91 to the inlet of piston operated valve 0. In assembly K inletport 55 is connected to compressed air line 92 and inlet port 57 isconnected to compressed air line 93. valve 0 is connected by branch line94 to line 70 and the air actuated piston of valve P is connected bybranch line 95 to line 71.

Line 70 connects port 55 of assembly I with chamber 17 of housing A.Compressed air is supplied to line 70 from compressed air line throughorifice member 100 and line 101 controlled by hand operated valve 102.Line 71 connects inlet port 57 of assembly I with chamber 18 of housingA. Air is supplied to line 71 from compressed air supply line 10,through orifice member 103 and line 104 controlled by hand operatedvalve 105.

Line 93 connects the port 57 of assembly K to an inlet side of doublecheck valve 120. The other inlet of double check valve 120 is connectedthrough line 115 and three-way valve 116 to compressed air supply line10. Compressed air is introduced into line 93 from compressed air supplyline 10 by way of orifice member 111 and branch line 112. The outletside of double check Valve .128 is c nnected throu h line 121 tointerrupter assembly L. The outlet line 122 of interrupter assembly L isconnected through port 25 to chamber 24 to fluid motor assembly D.

Line 92 connects port 55 of assembly K with an inlet side of doublecheck valve 123. The other inlet of double check valve 123 is connectedthrough line 115 and three-way valve 116 to compressed air supply line10. Compressed air is introduced into line 92 from compressed air supplyline 10 by way of orifice member 113 and branch line 114.

The three-way valve 116 causes the control mechanism to be deactivatedwhen it is set to deliver line pressure to valves 120 and 123.respectively. When the system is operating, valve 116 is set to connectthe inlet sides of valves 120 and 123, to which it is connected, to theatmosphere.

The outlet of double check valve 123 is connected throu h line 124 tointerrupter assembly M. The outlet line 125 of interrupter assembly M isc nnected to port 25 and chamber 24 of fluid motor assembly E.

The interrupter assemblies L and M are identical and for conveniencecorresponding parts will be designated by identical reference numbers. Qis a conventional four-way bleeder type piston operated valve and R isPort 45 is connected byv The air actuated piston of supplied to theinlet of valve a conventional three-way bleeder type piston operatedvalve. Compressed air is supplied to the inlet of valve Q fromcompressed air line 10. Valve Q has delivery ports 129 and 130. A doublecheck valve 132 has its outlet connected through line 133 to theoperating piston of valve 0. Inlet port 134 of double check valve 132serves as the inlet for assembly L. The other inlet port of valve 132 isconnected to line 135. which in turn connects to one side of orificemember 136 and through branch line 137 to a chamber 138. Orifice member136- is connected through line 139 to the delivery port of valve R.Delivery line 131. connects delivery port 130 of valve Q to one side oforifice member 140. The other side of orifice member 140 is connectedthrough line 141 to chamber 142 and through branch line 143 to theoperating piston of valve R. Compressed air is R by compressed air line10.

The action of interrupter L will now be described. Compressed air issupplied from compressed air line 10 and flows through orifice member111 and branch line 112 to line 93. Normally this compressed air willflow through double check valve and line 121, through inlet port 134 ofdouble check valve 132 and through line 133 to the actuating piston ofvalve Q. As long as a predetermined pressure is imposed on the actuatingpiston of valve Q, this actuating piston remains in its down position.When the actuating piston of valve Q is in its down position, compressedair is delivered to outlet port 129 and air is bled from port 130.However, if the pressure is bled from actuating piston of valve Q (as byactuating assembly K to bleed airfrom line 93 through double check valve120 and line 121), this reduces the pressure imposed on the actuatingpiston of valve Q and allows it to assume its up position. When theactuating piston of valve Q is in its up position, air is bled from port129 and is delivered to port 130. The bleeding of air through port 129reduces the pressure in the fluid make an upstroke. At the same time airis being bled through port 129 of valve Q, compressed air is beingdelivered through port 130, line 131, orifice member 140 and theactuating piston of valve R. The arrangement of orifice member 140 andchamber 142 introduces a time delay which is predetermined by theselection of the size of orifice in member 140 and the volume ofchamber- 142 and the volume of the operating piston of valve R.; Afterthe predetermined time delay, air pressure builds up in the actuatingpiston of valve R to a sufficientv extent to cause this normally closedvalve to open,-which..

in turn allows air from compressed air line '10 to pass through valve R,line 139 and orifice member 136 andthen by branch line 137 to'chamber'138 and through? double check valve 132 to the actuatingpiston' of valve The arrangement of orifice member 136 and chamber 138introduces a time delay which is predeterminedr by the size of orificein member 136, the size of chamberv 138 and the size of the actuatingpiston of valve Q. After this predetermined time delay, the'pre'ssure;.-

builds up in the actuating piston of 'valve Q to a sixthcient extent toforce the piston down, which inturn causes compressed air to bedelivered to port 129 and. air to be bled from port 130. The delivery ofcom-" pressed air to port 129 in turn suppliescompressed airto fluidmotor D and causes the plunger in fluid motor D to be forced downwardthus completing one cycle'of' operation of fluid motor D. The bleedingof air froml.

port withdraws air through line 131, orifice member 140, chamber 142 andthe operating piston of valve assumes its normally closed position.

inlet 134. The compressed airpressure imposed on inlet port 134 of checkvalve 132 then takes command. If air is still being bled from line 121(as by actuation of assembly K), the cycle will repeat.

As viewed in the drawing, the actuation of fluid motor D causes gear 14and valve stem 13 to rotate in a clockwise direction. The actuation offluid motor E causes gear 14 and valve stem 13 to rotate in thecounterclockwise direction. For convenience in describing the invention,it may be assumed that when gear 14 is. rotated in the clockwisedirection, it causes valve element B to reduce the area of flow throughthe valve body A and when it is rotated in the counterclockwisedirectiomfit increases the area of flow through valve body A.

The operation of interrupter L and fluid motor D has been described indetail. Interrupter M and fluid motor E operate in identical manner,except that whereas fluidmotor D causes gear 14 to rotate in acounterclockwise motor D and allows this motor to line 141 to chamber142 and through line 143 to direction and reduce the area of flowthrough the valve body A, fluid motor B when actuated throughinterrupter M, causes gear 14 to rotate in the counterclockwisedirection and increase the area of flow of valve body A. Port 55 ofassembly I is connected through line 70 with chamber 17 of valve body A.Port 57 of assembly I is connected through line 71 to chamber 18 ofvalve body A. Valve element C is carried on piston rod 15 upon which aremounted fluid, motor elements F and G. For convenience in describing theinvention, it will be assumed that when valve element C moves: to theleft, as viewed in the drawing, the area of flow in valve body A isreduced and that when valve element C is moved to the right, the area offlow through the valve body A is increased.

If suflicient air is bled from outlet 52 (Fig. 2) 01 assembly I toreduce the pressure in line 70 (which is connected to chamber 17) tosuch an extent that the pressure in chamber 18- overcomes the force ofspring 16 and pressure in chamber 17, valve element C moves to the left,as seen in of flow through valve air is being bled from chamber 17 bymeans of line 70 and outlet 52, it is also bled by way of line '70 and;

branch line 94 from the actuating piston of valve 0, which in turncauses this valve to open and lay-pass the orifice member 86. Thisactuation of valve 0, causing orifice member 86 to be lay-passed,inactivates assembly K, inasmuch as it allows the pressure imposed onthe diaphragms 40 and 41 to be equalized. Thus, when assembly I takescommand in bleeding air from line 70, it inactivates assembly K as wellas activating fluid motor element F.

As compressed air is bled from outlet port 54 of assembly K, it bleedsair from line 71 and chamber 18. When the pressure in chamber 18 becomesreduced to such an extent that the pressure in chamber 17 is able toovercome the force of spring 16' and pressure in chamber 18, the fluidmotor element G moves to the right, as viewed in the drawing, causingvalve member C to move to the right and increasing the area of flowthrough valve body A. At the same time that air is being bled fromchamber 18 of valve body A by way of line 71, pressure is also beingbled through branch line 95 and line 71 from the actuating piston ofvalve P, thereby causing this normally closed valve to open. When valveP opens, it bypasses orifice member 86. Thus, when assembly I actuatesfluid motor element G by bleeding off the pressure from chamber 18 byway of line 71, it also inactivates assembly K by bleeding off pressurefrom the operating piston of valve P, allowing this valve to open, whichin turn equalizes the pressure imposed against diaphragms 40 and 41 ofassembly K.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the controlassembly of the present application includes a valve body with first andsecond cooperating movable valve members. First and second fluid motormeans control the position of the first valve member and third andfourth fluid motors control the position of the second valve member. Afirst assembly consists of first and second compressed air valves,actuated by a fifth fluid motor. These first and second compressed airvalves are fluidly connected to said first and second fluid motor meansand said fifth fluid motor is arranged to be actuated in response tochanges in the pressure of fluid in a selected chamber (specifically adrilling line weight indicator). A second assembly consisting of thirdand fourth compressed air valves arranged to be actuated by a sixthfluid motor means has said third and fourth air valve fluidly connectedto said third and fourth fluid motors respectively. Said sixth fluidmotor is arranged to be actuated by changes in the pressure in saidselected chamber. Means is provided to inactivate the sixth fluid motorof said second assembly when the fifth fluid motor of the first assemblyactuates either the first or second compressed air valve.

While a specific embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to a workman skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A control system comprising, in combination, a valve body, first andsecond cooperating movable valve members in said valve body for alteringthe area of flow through said valve body, a first fluid motoroperatively connected to the first valve member for giving it movethedrawing, and reduces the area body A. At the same time-that 6 ment afirst direction, a second fluid motor operatively connected to the firstvalve member forgiving a movement ina second direction opposite to themovement" produced by said first fluid motor, a third fluid motor operatively connected to the second valve member for giving: it movement ina first direction, a fourth fluid motor operatively connected to thesecond valve member for giving it movement in a second directionopposite to the movement produced by the third fluid moton a firstcompressedair valve fluidly connected to the first fluid motor, a secondcompressed air valve fluidly connected to the second fluid motor, athird compressed air valve fluidly connected to the third fluid motor,afourth compressed air valve fluidly connected to the fourth fluidmotor, a fifthfluid motor means arranged for separately actuating thefirst andsecon'd compressed air valves, a sixth fluid motor meansarranged for separately actuating thethird and fourth compressed airvalves, means fluidly connected with said first and second compressedair valves for in-' activating said sixth fluid motor means when one ofsaid compressed air valves is actuated and a meansfor actuating saidfifth and sixth fluid motor means in response: to' changes in thepressure of a fluid in a selected chamber.

2. A control systemfor altering the rate of flow of fluid through avalvein response to changes in pressure in a fluid filled chambercomprising, in combination, a valve bo'dy, fi rst and second cooperatingmovable valve members arranged in said valve body foraltering thearea-of flow through said valve body, a first motor operativelyconnected to the first valve member for giving it movement in a firstdirection and a second fluid motor operatively connected to said firstvalve member for giving it movement in a second direction opposite tothe direction of movement produced by said first fluid motor, a thirdfluid motor operatively connected to the second valve member for givingit movement in a first direction, a fourth fluid motor operativelyconnected to said second valve member for giving it movement in a seconddirection opposite to the direction of movement produced by the thirdfluid motor, a first assembly consisting of first and second compressedair valves and a fifth fluid motor means arranged for separatelyactuating said first and second compressed air valves, conduit meansfluidly connecting said first and second compressed air valves with saidfirst and second fluid motors respectively, a second assembly consistingof third and fourth compressed air valves and a sixth fluid motor meanscapable of separately actuating said third and fourth compressed airvalves and conduits fluidly connecting said third and fourth valves withsaid third and fourth air motors respectively, conduit means fluidlyconnecting said fifth and sixth air motor means with a chamber and meansoperatively connecting said first and second assemblies to inactivatesaid sixth fluid motor means when said fifth fluid motor means actuatesone of the compressed air valves in the first assembly.

3. A control system for regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid through avalve in response to changes in pressure in a fluid filled chambercomprising, in combination, a valve body, first and second cooperatingvalve members fluidly arranged in said valve body to vary the area offlow through the valve body, a first fluid motor operatively connectedto the first valve member for giving it movement in a first direction, asecond fluid motor operatively connected to said first valve member forgiving it movement in a second direction opposite that produced by saidfirst fluid motor, a third fluid motor operatively connected to thesecond valve member for giving it movement in a first direction, afourth fluid motor operatively connected to the second valve member forgiving it movement in a second direction opposite to that produced bythe third fluid motor, a first assembly consisting of a first compressedair valve, a second compressed air valve and a fifth fluid motor meansarranged for separately actuating said first and second compressed airvalves, means fluidly connecting the first air valve of the said firstassembly with said first fluid motor, means fluidly connecting saidsecond compressed air valve of the first assembly with the second fluidmotor, a second assembly consisting of a third compressed air valve, afourth compressed air valve and a sixth fluid motor means arranged forseparately actuating said third and fourth compressed air valves, meansincluding a first periodic interrupter fluidly connecting the thirdcompressed air valve with the third fluid motor, means including asecond. periodic interrupter fluidly connecting the fourth compressedair valve with the fourth fluid motor, means fluidly connected with saidfirst compressed air valve for inactivating said sixth fluid motor meanswhen said first compressed air valve is actuated, means fluidlyconnected with said second compressed air valve for inactivating saidsixth fluid motor means when said second compressed air valve isactuatedand means fluidly connected said fifth and sixth fluid motor means witha chamber the pressure in which varies in response to a weighted member.

4. A control system for altering the flow of hydraulic fluid through avalve in response to changes in pressure in a fluid filled chambercomprising, in combination, a valve body, first and second cooperatingvalve members movably arranged in the valve body to vary the area offlow through the valve body, a first fluid motor operatively connectedto the first valve member for giving it movement in a first direction, asecond fluid motor operatively connected to the first valve member forgiving it movement in a second direction opposite to that produced bythe first fluid motor, a third fluid motor operatively connected to thesecond valve member for giving it movement in a first direction, afourth fluid motor operatively connected to the second valve member forgiving it movement in a second direction opposite to that produced bythe third fluid motor, a first assembly consisting of first and secondcompressed air valves, and a fifth fluid motor consisting of first andsecond diaphragms separately arranged in chambers and mechanicallyconnected and arranged for separately actuating said first and secondvalves, a second assembly consisting of third and fourth compressed airvalves and a, sixth fluid motor means consisting of first and seconddiaphragms, arranged in separate chambers and mechanically connected andarranged for separately actuating said third and fourth compressed airvalves, means including a periodic interrupter fluidly connecting thethird compressed air valve with a third fluid motor, means including asecond periodic interrupter fluidly connecting the fourth compressed airvalve with the fourth connecting the chamber of the second'diaphragm ofthe first assembly and the chamber of the first diaphragm of the secondassembly with the chamber of a weight signalling device, a conduitincluding an orifice member containing an orifice of substantiallysmaller flow area than the connecting conduits fluidly connecting thechambers of the first and second diaphragmsof the second assembly, afirst pressure change actuated bypass valve arranged in a first bypassline connecting the chamber of the second diaphragm of the secondassembly with said manifold, a second pressure change actuated bypassvalve in a second bypass line fluidly connecting the chamber of thesecond diaphragm of the second assembly with said manifold, meansfluidly connecting the actuating means of the first bypass valve withsaid first compressed air valve and means fluidly connecting the actuating means of the second bypass valve with said second compressed airvalve.

No references cited.

fluid motor, a manifold fluidly

